Border Patrol in Arizona picked up a group of illegal Chinese immigrants last month and faced an intriguing challenge. Mike Reilly, a Border Patrol agent said, "As an agent I don't speak Chinese, so it's very hard. Usually, the only word they understand is 'passport'. "
The agents had a challenge in arresting the immigrants because they could not speak their language and the immigrants did not speak English. Interpreters would have come in hand in this situation, however, they are in short supply.
This is occurring more and more across the United States, where over 54.4 million individuals speak a language other than English in the home. In fact, every 19 seconds a person who will need language assistance arrives somewhere in the U.S., which is a challenge for law enforcement, physicians, and pharmacists across the country.
In Arizona hospitals alone, patients who speak Native American dialects, Chinese, and Arabic are constantly seeking health services. This requires translators and interpreters be available at a moments notice to assist clinicians in understanding their patients. According to Sandi Cimino, a spokesperson for Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, Arizona stated, "Patient safety is our priority. Hearing a language that is comfortable, that is understandable, that peace is invaluable in a healthcare crisis."
22 December 2008
